With all the material we have written here on Part Time Commander, I discovered we had not covered what it takes to be Military Police. It surprised me, so I decided to jump immediately on that task.
No matter what, every single location on this Earth needs some type of law enforcement. If there was no one to enforce the laws, life would be a chaotic mess.
In the United States Army, the ones who have the job of enforcing the laws, along with other duties and responsibilities are the Military Police. So, in today’s blog post, I am going to examine the Army 31B MOS: Military Police. I will provide a basic job description. I will also tell you the MP’s responsibilities and duties. You will learn what is required to become an Army 31B, and you will also know what training is required.
So, scroll down and learn more about the Army 31B MOS: Military Police.
Army 31B Military Police Basic Job Description
During peacetime, military police provide law enforcement activities on Army installations. They work in a similar position as a civilian police officer. When war is at hand, military police conduct area security, guard prisoners of war, still conduct law and order duties and provide crime prevention programs.
Responsibilities and Duties of the Army 31B Military Police
Trying to list all the responsibilities that can fall on the shoulders of the 31B MOS Military Police would probably mean writing a book. But, I am going to list some of the primary responsibilities so you can get a good idea what this Army job consists of.
Performing security for Army installations and resources
Conducts battlefield circulation control
Guards and maintains Prisoners of War and the facilities they are held in
Plans and implements crime prevention measures
Operates police desks and takes complaints and reports
Operation of evidence rooms
Interviewing victims, suspects and witnesses in crime investigations
Processing crime scenes
Conducting mobility support
And much more
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Top 16 Army Military Police Facts
- Military Police Platoon Leader in the 10th Mountain Division: My Experience
- The 18th Military Police Brigade: 10 Cool Facts
- The History of the Military Police
- U.S. Military Modernization
Requirements to Become an Army 31B MOS: Military Police
Not just anyone can step in and become a 31B. There are some prerequisites you must meet to be able to get this Army job. The requirements I found are:
A minimum ASVAB score of 95 from GS+WK+PC+MK+MC
No objections to performing security in the vicinity of nuclear or biological storage facilities
Must be interviewed by a PERSCOM Security Interviewer
No records of possession of any narcotic or nonnarcotic drug. Waivers can be given by PERSCOM Security Interviewer
Must meet all the requirements of the Personnel Reliability Program
No information that would prevent the issuance of a security clearance of CONFIDENTIAL
Must possess a valid State drivers license
No record of more than 15 days lost time
No records of conviction by civil or military court or pre-trial interventions for any offense involving violence or force, any offense that the sentence could carry 4 months or more of confinement, 2 or more offenses within a 5 year period that carry less than 4 months confinement or 3 or more traffic offenses within a 12 month period immediately preceding the entry into active Army duty
The prerequisites to become an Army MP are quite strict, but they need to be. These are the men and women who are enforcing the laws, so they must show that they are clean of all possible situations where they could be looked down upon.
Training Required To Become An Army 31B Military Police
The training for this MOS is a one station training. What that means is: the soldier will have his/her Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) all in one location. That location is a place I am quite familiar with since I used to live just 15 minutes away from it before I moved to Puerto Rico.
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is where all United States Army Military Police are trained. During the MP training, the soldier will be taught:
Advanced communications
Crew served weapons
Preventive maintenance and driving the HMMWV on and off road
Small arms
MP law enforcement procedures
Defensive tactics
Detainee operations
Active shooter response
Battlefield forensics
And at the end, you will be put through a Rites of Passage ceremony.
The following Army Field Manuals are wise reading before you travel to Fort Leonard Wood. I am putting links to them:
All of those can help you be a shining star in your military police training.
Final Thoughts
The training and experience you receive can lead to some great civilian careers when you are finished with Army service.
Naturally, you still have to take police training to become a civilian police officer, but with your experience, that could be easy.
The possibilities of security companies and similar careers are also evident.
So, what are your thoughts? Have any of you been a 31B? We would like to hear more about your experiences in that Army career if you are willing to share.
Feel free to leave any comments, questions or suggestions below. Thank you.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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